Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.

Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

~Content from Stopbullying.gov

What to do

Be More Than a Bystander

Every day, students witness bullying. They want to help, but don’t know how. Fortunately, there are a few simple, safe ways that students can help stop bullying when they see it happening. Those who witness bullying can:

Be a friend to the person being bullied.

Students can help someone who’s been bullied by simply being nice to them at another time. Being friendly can go a long way toward letting them know that they’re not alone. A bystander can help by spending time with the person being bullied at school. Simple gestures like talking to them, sitting with them at lunch, or inviting them to play sports or other games during physical education can help a lot. A bystander can let that person know that what happened wasn’t cool, and that they’re there for them.

Tell a trusted adult, like a family member, counselor, teacher or coach.

An adult can help stop bullying by intervening while it’s in progress, stopping it from occurring or simply giving the person being bullied a shoulder to lean on.

Help the person being bullied to get away from the situation.

Create a distraction. If no one is rewarding the student who is bullying by paying attention, the behavior may stop. Bystanders can help to focus the attention on something else.

A bystander can offer a way for the person being bullied to leave the scene by saying something like, “Mr. Smith needs to see you right now,” or “Come on, we need you for our game.”

Set a good example. Do not bully others.

If a student knows not to bully others, then other students will follow their example. To help even more, students can actively participate in anti-bullying activities and projects.

Don’t give bullying an audience.

If one of your child’s friends or peers begins to bully someone, they shouldn’t encourage the behavior by giving it an audience. Instead of laughing or supporting, they can let the bully know that his or her behavior isn't entertaining. Oftentimes, those who bully are encouraged by the attention that they receive from bystanders. Students can help stop bullying by actively not supporting it. When they see bullying, they can act disinterested or blatantly state that they don’t think bullying is entertaining or funny. Students can help by keeping their distance from the situation. If they ignore it, it may stop.

~Content from Stopbullying.gov

How to report

If you are being bullied, or have witnessed another student being bullied, please talk to your Counselor or Dean.

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